Damn, that’s an awfully nice waist for a woman her age with 2 kids. (Looks at my own 42 year old, post-3 sprogs paunch…sighs.)

Sobaika Mirza

I’m pretty sure it’s being strapped in by that sash. She has a fab body, but part of why the outfit is so great is that it’s creating a strong curve effect.

Sobaika Mirza

She looks stunning! I want to rip it right off of her and wear it everyday. Not many could make that outfit WERQ so well.

Beth G

Love the dress. But… (I know this has nothing to do with her outfit which really is amazing) she doesn’t look very happy… which leads me to think there may be some SERIOUS spanx going on under there.

Anonymous

I don’t know. Granted, she has a fab body and the general idea of the outfit works, but I don’t like the texture of the sweater paired with the glittery skirt, and the sash does not pull it together – the sash needs a little sheen. It looks like she forgot to bring the top that goes with the skirt, and only had with her the black sweater she had paired with her jeans earlier in the day, and she thought she could “get away” with wearing it so long as she put a sash around it. It’s the sweater that doesn’t work for me. He body, hair, and make-up are gorgeous. I don’t mind the bangles.

Anonymous

Yes…I thought it was the sash that bugged me most, but I agree it’s the sweater top that just seems wrong with the outfit. The sash appears a tad too tight too though, imo.

Anonymous

The sash is a corset/waist cincher. That’s what’s giving her that fantastic shape. If it wasn’t tight it wouldn’t do anything.

Looks like duchesse satin to me.

Anonymous

I don’t think it makes her shape look fantastic…she looks disproportionate, too bound and uncomfortable. A tad looser would would still define her waist and give her a more proportionate shape, and hopefully not draw attention to her pooch (although I suspect sparkles and lighting are more to blame for that.) Also, she already has large hips…this accentuates them even more. Not flattering imo. My bigger gripe is still the black sweater though…

Heather Kaplin

ITA, you said this better than I did 😉

http://profiles.google.com/shannonlstewart Shannon Stewart

I have wide hips and I prefer that they show. I kind of like them.

http://profiles.google.com/shannonlstewart Shannon Stewart

Well, that and the fact that she has a great body anyway. Corsets can do some, but they still have to work with what’s under them, particularly in the case of this one since it is just a waist cincher. If you try for too many inches gone, you get very unsightly bulges above and below.

Anonymous

Yes, she is in good shape anyway. I think what’s most effective is that this is visually lowering her waist which can look high in a lot of her outfits. It isn’t cinching her in that much at all, just enough.
To avoid bulges if it’s reduced further you just need to allow more space above and below – trouble with most off-the-racks is they’re too straight so you get the bulges you mention.

http://twitter.com/VicksieDo Vickie Lord

Gorgeous, both of them. I adore them.

Anonymous

She is so beautiful. Spanx can accomplish quite a bit, but creating an entirely new waistline? I don’t know about that…and Shelly has certainly never seemed like someone to hide her actual body.

Anonymous

Who’s the designer? That dress, and Michelle in it, are gorgeous.

scottyf

When our Commander In Chief is being bombarded with bi-partisan criticism, and lower approval ratings. When the world is looking to him for answers, and expecting him to solve every problem from global warming to the economy ASAP, I know how he keeps that cool rational, demeanor.

Inside, he is thinking: “When all is said and done, I get to come home to A STONE COLD FOX.”

Anonymous

She’s just so gorgeous and strong. And that dress! I want to rip it off her, put it on, twirl around the mirror for a little while, …. and then go to the grocery store (I need a more exciting life).

Anonymous

Praise the Lord for support garments, Shelly O definitely knows exactly how to use them! Perfectly smooth lines, which is how it should be for a tight ensemble like that. A lot of the female denizens of the red carpet should be taking notes…

http://joyouslifesf.wordpress.com Kiltdntiltd

WOW!!!!!
Shelley, you look sublime.
nuff said.

Judy_J

WOW! What’s her secret? Inquiring women need to know!

Anonymous

accentuating her top half and hiding her bottom.

I have to believe the read view is not as good since her lower half is not her strength – wisely she seems to have only been photoed from the front… I found one less flattering from the side.

I need to find a way to only have my breasts and legs photographed (Breasts up and Hips down)

Anonymous

Yowza! She looks amazing. “Insanely flattering” is an understatement. It completely handles a couple of her “problem” areas: a bust that it small in relation to the rest of her, and her high waist. It gives her a gorgeous hour-glass figure.

That site you linked to says its a Michael Kors “black double face paillette fishtail skirt.”

Anonymous

They didn’t have that info up when I first looked at it this morning. Thanks.

Anonymous

I wonder if she has more time to work out as First Lady than she did when she was working FT. I can’t imagine that being the case, but … she is fucking amazing. What a body. And what confidence she has to WERQ everything the way she does.

Anonymous

I believe it’s been reported in the past that Michelle & Barack have a rigorous early morning work out session with a trainer. (That’s not a euphemism.)

http://profiles.google.com/shannonlstewart Shannon Stewart

I can tell you what her secret probably is: DNA. A lot of that waist comes from the fact that she carries any extra weight in her lower half — which probably frustrates her, but it does mean you get to keep a teeny-tiny waist:)

http://onebluetree.blogspot.com/ Sara L.

Yup, that’s what I think. I have the exact same blessing/curse. Teeny waist and big hips, no sit ups required. She looks amazing, though, and now I really want that dress, as well.

http://xoxotara.wordpress.com Tara Melissa

I have the same issue. My waist always seems to be pretty small, but when I gain weight, it is allllll going to the hips.

And that sash is fab.

http://profiles.google.com/shannonlstewart Shannon Stewart

Me too, that’s how I can spot it! At 80 lbs overweight, my waist still only measured 37 inches, which considering I’m only 5’4″ and I gained EIGHT sizes, wasn’t too shabby.

Anonymous

she looks fab!

Anonymous

I was just about to email you guys, just to ask you to review her look, and I was so happy it was your first post on a Monday…. She looks so amazing! and I don’t mind the bangles at all! they are one of her signatures, and I love them! Wow! what a look!

Anonymous

Best. WERQ. Evah!

MilaXX

That is a good look on her. Agree about one bracelet too many.

Nora Mulllin

Holy cow! Insanely flattering indeed. Well done ma’am.

Anonymous

Her waist looks insanely thin, for her…too thin.

I like that her torso seems longer than usual and she has more of an hour glass figure, but I really hate the width of the cumberbun and it looks way too tight…likes she’s so bound she can’t breathe. It doesn’t seem to be suited to be placed over a sweater/knit top either, imo. I’d have liked it more if it was placed over a crisp white button-up blouse.

AHA! She’s laced! Well that does explain the especially sleek waist. Not that she’s not fit to begin with, but even the most intractable Spanx have nothing on half-decent corsets when it comes to figure shaping.

Gorgeous silhouette and I love that although it’s all black, the mix of textures reflects her spotlight in such interesting ways! Inspiring!

Anonymous

Ahhhh! I thought that, because she’s normally quite straight at the waist. It works wonderfully on her.

Anonymous

Insanely flattering is just a perfect description. If we made a list of chic every chic FLOTUS, who else would be on it besides Michelle and JBKO?

Anonymous

Dolley Madison.

Anonymous

Good one. I just found a Barney’s blog about a book about FLOTUS style (by a former editor in chief of Harper’s Bazaar, Kate Betts) that names Obama, Kennedy, Madison and Lincoln as the most notable White House fashionistas. And Mrs Lincoln had shopping issues: 400 pairs of gloves purchased in just a few months. Maybe they were cheaper by the dozen.

Anonymous

Wonder what Mrs. Lincoln paid for shoes back then??

Anonymous

YOWZZAAA!!!

lilibetp

I just got a picture of her holding on to the bedpost in the Lincoln bedroom while someone tied her corset.

She looks amazing, but other than her figure, I’m not sure it’s WERQ worthy. This looks like she had a skirt, wasn’t sure what to wear with it and pulled out a long sleeved T from the closet, then realized she needed a belt too, and stole one of the presidental tux cummerbunds. Love me some Shelly O, but she looks like she made this one up.

http://www.tomandorenzo.com Tom and Lorenzo

Funny. The way you describe it sounds to us like the very definition of style.

http://profiles.google.com/shannonlstewart Shannon Stewart

Yep sounds like it to me — anyone can wear an outfit, putting it together takes style.

Anonymous

I wish I could step into my closet and come out looking like this.

Anonymous

I think that’s what makes it a WERQ! I could do the same thing with stuff from my closet (well, if I had a long black sequin skirt…etc!) and I wouldn’t look this fab. If she was indeed “shopping her closet” – she TOTALLY WERQ’d it.

http://profiles.google.com/shannonlstewart Shannon Stewart

WERQ has generally been reserved not only for people who look great (which she does) but who also clearly know they look great. Which again, she does.

Though I can’t say I can recall her looking uncomfortable in her skin very often.

Anonymous

Wow. I’ve gotta get a corset.

Bravo, First Lady. You look elegant AND hot.

Anonymous

Wow. Absolutely stunning in every way. She looks beautiful, elegant, and powerful. I love that she put the corset/belt over a gown. such a great example of how to make a look “her own.” I don’t even mind the excessive bangles.

Anonymous

Ladies and gentlemen, our First Lady. Wow.

Anonymous

OMG WERQ!!

Anonymous

she looks AMAZING. just head to toe gorgeous.

Jessica Goldstein

Somehow she manages to look glamorous and relaxed at the same time in this. As though she’s thinking, “Oh, this old thing?” Combined with how insanely flattering the outfit is and how good her hair and make-up look, this might just be her best look ever. Hot as all get-out, too.

Anonymous

I’m crushed – from the front she is stunning – the silhouette and the three different textures of black are really wonderful. But I just looked at the back view in the link that was posted, and I’m not feeling the corset. If it had been a finished belt, a thousand times yes – exposed corset lacings, non.

Anonymous

I felt the same way about the corset laces in the back. Too gauche for a First Lady and it was at the height of its fad a couple years ago in the wedding gown designs.

Anonymous

If it was fake laces perhaps, but it is a corset/cincher. There’s no other way to get that shape and conceal the laces over clothes (well there is but it’s tricky), the laces are part of the structure.

Anonymous

Wow! Work it, Shelley! And from the look on President Obama’s face, he agrees.

http://twitter.com/herong Heron

DAY-ammmmmmn. LOVing the casual/glam. Tres au courant.

Mary McClelland

Um… <3! And I like the bangles – it's kinda become her thing and she clearly digs it, so why not. I'd rather have a first lady with a little sass and her own personal style than Barbra or Laura Bush in their boring coordinated suits!

http://phantomminuet.blogspot.com/ MinAgain

Fabulous. And I do love a woman who loves her bracelets.

Anonymous

Wow. She looks fabulous. Fabulous.

Anonymous

Amazing!

Anonymous

She looks outstanding. Wow. The word “statuesque” comes to mind.

Rand Ortega

Any info on the designer?
Bitter Kittens?
Unborn Fauns?

Anonymous

Can’t help with the skirt or top, but the corset belt is by Peter Soronen.

The First Lady schools the nation in how to not look boring dress all in black. She looks frigging amazing. I love all the bangles and the necklace is fabulous.

She is a powerhouse.

They’re such a gorgeous couple. I envy both of them.

Anonymous

I saw this on TV and thought she looked amazing.

Anonymous

Gorgeous!!!

https://me.yahoo.com/a/dLUE.9h6zdoHMLprP6AQrSQpKt0CZys-#e58b4 tom

Just really outstanding ; I don’t recall her ever looking better. Perfect from head to toe. When her portrait is painted I hope that she’s wearing that dress!

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1414091387 Florrie Brafman

Any idea of the designer or store?

Anonymous

The corset belt is Peter Soronen. She’s worn it before.

http://profiles.google.com/sara.e.munoz Sara Munoz

Off topic, but I am getting a Ron Paul banner ad on this page. GROSS. I’d better hurry back to the PR posts and get my Playgirl ads back!

aimee_parrott

Fierce! She looks AMAZING!

I agree re: the bangles, though. I think she needed to either lose the big one, or all of the smaller ones. Still, she’s stunning.

Anonymous

Fantastic! See what a great piece of corsetry can do? She’s got a good figure anyway but her waist tends to be straight and her belts and waistlines are usually too high. This puts everything in the right place and makes her proportions just fabulous.Love the texture contrasts too. Well done to her!

Heather Kaplin

I think I’m probably the only one, but I don’t think it’s that flattering… I feel like it draws extra attention to the hips (making them look larger than they are) and the glitter is drawing extra attention to the crotch. I normally think she dresses wonderfully, but I’m just not feeling this…

http://profiles.google.com/misslauraschultz Laura Schultz

Yeah, I usually love her looks but I’m not that impressed with this. It’s a little too much, too exaggerated and costumey.

Anonymous

good to see her enjoying the waist we still have before menopause sets in… THIS is how to show off a small waist and not look like you can’t breathe. werq indeed. west coast, please take notes.

Anonymous

OMG no kidding about the menopause and the loss of the waist. I have discovered this and have fled to the Land of Big White Grannie Panties.
Sigh.

Anonymous

Hey, I’m well into meno, and I rock the still-small waist whenever possible! Have had all the other not-pleasant meno s/s, but the waist still exists, thank heavens!

Anonymous

It definitely alters her figure in the most flattering of ways, but I just can’t think she looks great when she is laced so tight her hips and rib cage appear to be bursting from her belt. She looks crushed (and grumpy, perhaps the two are related).

Anonymous

She isn’t laced tightly at all. That’s quite a gentle cinch.

Anonymous

She isn’t laced tightly for a Steampunk enthusiast, but for a public political figure in 2011…

Anonymous

Who said anything about steampunk. I’m talking about modern fashion corsetry. There is a most 2 inches cinched off her waist, if even that. That’s is perfectly comfortable and easy, in fact you can get an inch or more off with Spanx (if you prefer ugly sausage casings). She has naturally quite generous hips anyway, so when the waist is drawn in at all the hip spring is emphasised.

http://profiles.google.com/shannonlstewart Shannon Stewart

I’ve worn a lot of corsets and I agree. They really aren’t all that uncomfortable to take an inch or so off with. Unlike Spanx or girdles, which work by simply compressing everything in a very uncomfortable (and not at all good for circulation) way, corsets are merely stiff material between flexible boning. It’s no different than wearing a formal gown with pleating on the bodice in terms of the feel of it, except it’s boned as well. And if it’s made properly, the bones don’t hurt.

In fact, a lot of the effect you can get from a corset is the same effect as if you stood up truly straight and pulled in your stomach. That’s essentially what it does for you: the bones keep your posture up and the fabric keeps your stomach from relaxing and poofing out.

Anonymous

Exactly. A short cincher of that style if it’s well cut, and it appears to be, is perfectly comfortable and won’t restrict breathing or movement.
High heels are far more of an encumberance than a light cincher like that.

Anonymous

First Lady’s rocking a Beyonce body!

http://www.reporternextdoor.wordpress.com Ashley Nicole

She looks AMAZING! I’m a huge stacked bangle fan so I think she has just the right amount!

Anonymous

So pretty!!! Love the bangles!

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_C65IT4K6RYN4TWRMFJOI3VUDAI Olechka Milashka

WOW! WERQ that waist, Shelley O!

Anonymous

Absolute sheer perfection. Red carpet celebrities, particularly the over forty crowd, could use this image as a tutorial on how to look insanely sexy without looking desperate.

Anonymous

My favorite look of hers EVER. She looks perfect, so does the President.

Anonymous

Dunno. I like but she looks like she can’t take a breath.

http://www.facebook.com/shawn.eric.hill Shawn Hill

He looks so proud to have her on his arm! Like, “yeah, America, what about THIS decision, right?”

Drop dead gorgeous! First ladies of the world, the bar has officially been raised.

Anonymous

She is just lovely. I expect weight loss has to do with the incredible stress that she and her spouse are under, you know, being the wife of the Leader of the Free World and all that. If she has time for Pilates, then I’ll doff my hat yet again.

Susan Crawford

Awesome, indeed! She looks gorgeous. And BarryO can rock a look himself, even if the pants are a tad bit long. All in all, a stunning First Couple.

Anonymous

Gorgeous. But I think those are nuclear powered Spanx.

Anonymous

So where do I order a case of them?

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=527150091 Pat Biswanger

Probably the best she has EVER looked. Fabulous!

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=506473106 Mori Clark

perfect balance of feminine and powerful. LUV HUH.

http://houseofestrogen.typepad.com/ Ann

That is spectacular! She is nailing First Lady fashion!

Anonymous

Holy crap. I, too, would like a waist like that after 2 births and into my 40s, please.

Anonymous

That’s like, scary skinny. I mean..

It’s like she’s wearing a very tight waist cincher.

http://twitter.com/MajorBedhead MajorBedhead

I kind of have a crush on the First Lady. As well as the President. They are a coupe of gorgeous people and her outfit is stunning.

http://twitter.com/jennsaysmeow Fifi LaRoux

Damn! How tiny is her waist!

She looks fabulous!

Anonymous

I think the bangles are fine. She’s a tall gal and small jewelry gets lost on her.

Anonymous

The more I look at her, the more I notice that she is very high- and rather short-waisted, even for as tall as she is. So am I. It’s a tough shape to fit. Good for her!

Anonymous

She looks great. Maybe the best I have seen her look.

http://twitter.com/#!/Space_Kitty Space Kitty

She. looks. fantastic.

Anonymous

wow! Also here’s one instance where 3/4 length sleeves look great! They really work on her.

Anonymous

Hot to death. Proud of my First Lady.

Anonymous

I like the dress. And the shape she has, both thanks to her own figure & the mild waist cinching.

Adella Thompson

STUNNING!

Warmheartedgirl Seattle

She looks fabulous. Wouldn’t change a thing.

http://twitter.com/HotMessHousWife Sammi M

She looks BREATHTAKING. OMG. They make such a handsome couple.

http://profiles.google.com/thisiscelia Celia

Where in the WHAT?!? did she get that waist? Holy hell, is there a new Spanx I haven’t heard about? She looks phenomenal, but I have to say that I hate that outfit. 3 shades and textures of black? Breaking up her body into three big chunks? Love the accessories.

Anonymous

Far older form of waist-shaping deployed here

Anonymous

she would have feel naked without her bangles.
Come on, let her do her schtick.
Can’t say our president’s wife usually looks that good and she used to be a model (OK, she still pulls off some crazy outfit at formal dinners but she usually looks so bland… At least, your first lady put an effort in every single public appearance)

Anonymous

From the high waist up she is trim and this look highlights her strengths.
Her lower half is wide/large. Therefore skirts that are less fitted work better for her.

This is another example of her wisely playing to her strength – evening wear is almost always better on her than more casual wear

http://profiles.google.com/trashilove { edi } ilovetrash

it’s the best she’s ever looked. it’s also her new hair length, as an aside.

margaret meyers

Very modern looking. Yowzaa!

Anonymous

That looks extremely uncomfortable in the waist. It’s so nipped in that I think the proportions of her shoulders look off–I *love* wide shoulders, but with that waist, it’s borderline linebacker.. But she is still stunning.

http://vhanna26.typepad.com Vera

WERQ it indeed.

Anonymous

People sometimes say that politics is Hollywood for ugly people. Well, we can safely say that the Obamas have demolished that myth.

Like Mrs O, I too have broad shoulders, so I notice that she has cleverly balanced out and de-emphasised them by highlighting her tiny waist and showing off her killer curves.

Lisa

WOW! She looks amazing, this is probably one of my favorite looks on her!

Anonymous

This is one of my favorite looks on her ever. Wow.

Geno Boggiatto

DAMN!!!!!!!! work work work work

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_F3HKIK7MIJMBDAQBDWEAQDTXUM theneva

Hey! I was just thinking how it’d been a while since I’d seen a post about Michelle Obama here, so I’m glad to see that not only is there one today, it’s a WERQ. 😀

Anonymous

Love it. This may be the prettiest she’s ever looked. I simply adore her hair this way. And the bangles are her thing. Very well done!

Anonymous

Fantastic in every way! I agree evening wear is her strength. She looks truly beautiful and I’m so proud to have her as our First Lady.

Now I am The Bee

Absolutely love this. And Ms. O–don’t you dare take off even one of your bangles. They are perfect.

Cheri Lee

She sure loves those bangles! Goodness does she ever look fabulous here.

Anonymous

BEST EVER ON HER. Seriously so perfectly classy and appropriately fashionable.

Anonymous

Slammin’!

Anonymous

something a wee bit dominatrix about this here ensemble. Huzzaaaaaaaaah!

Anonymous

daaaaaaaaaaaamn, girl! looking good!

Anonymous

Two bangles.

Anonymous

Looking fabulous. And I like all the bangles so I’m glad she didn’t take Coco’s advice here.

Anonymous

Well done!

Phillip Wilde

Fabulous! So often she wears things that do nothing for her figure, but this gown does an amazing job of showing off her slammin’ bod. Barack and Michelle are definitely the hottest presidential couple since Jack and Jackie.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Matthew-Vella/666619877 Matthew Vella

The shape is gorgeous! Not sure about that material belt going around her waist. Still it does have her figure look great.

Candice Richardson

WERQ!

Anonymous

the dress is insanely flattering, but that picture of her waving is very unflattering to her face. one of the worst pictures of her i’ve seen.

wait, she’s not waving, the prez is.

Wrenaria

Lovely!

Anonymous

The wide black bangle should have gone.

She looks gorgeous! The natural waist is so great on her. I wish she would embrace it and ditch all those high waisted garments she owns.

http://twitter.com/cambiata Mary Pekowski

I want that belt. Anyone have ideas of where I can buy it? I did a google search for Michael Kors corset belt, but had no luck.

Sara__B

It’s a Peter Soronen corset belt, according to mrs-o.com. It laces up the back.